Improvement in automatic gates



H. HAMMOND.

Automatic-Gate.

Patented June'22, 1875.

Ulvrrnn SrA'rEs maar Garret.

HUGH HAMMOND, OF SMITHFIELD, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN AUTOMATIC GATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 164.831 dated June 22, 1875; application filed April 30, m75.

To all whom-it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH HAMMOND, of Smithfield, in the county of Jefferson and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Farm-Gates; and I do hereby declare that the. following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic farm-gates, which are constructed with capability of being opened by the person approaching them upon either side, and again closed behind him after he has passed through, without the necessity ot' his alighting from his horse or vehicle. It consists in a simple system of levers, a swinging bar or lever, a lifting-block, and a fixed arm, secured to the under board of the gate, all constructed so that they can be arranged and connected with any farm-gate of ordinary construction. t In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective of my gate, and Figs. 2 and'S are detail views thereof. y

a is the gate; al, the post on which it swings, and a2 the post against which it closes. a3 a4 are two sets of posts set on the same side of I the carriage-way, and on both sides of and in line or nearly in line with lthe post a2; and to them are attached the operating-levers a5 a6 and connecting-rods a7 a", by which the gate 4is opened or closed. b is a box orl trough placed under the gate. It is placed against the post al, and extends nearly to the post a2, a small space being left, wherein moves the lifting-block hereinafter described. Its end next the post a2 is rounded or made convex, so as to permit the free Vmovement of said block. It may be set in the ground flush with the surface of the road-bed, or it may be placed on top of the ground, and the roadway illed in on both sides thereof to make a gradual rise for the wheels of the vehicles. It is provided with the cross curved slot or opening b near the end next the post al, and under the rear upright framing-piece of the gate. It forms a protection for and is of sufficient size to permit of the frcemovemeut within it of the rocking bar, hereinafter described. c is an arm attached to the under side of the lower board of the gate, and so as to be over the openin g b' when the gate is closed. It has the curved or cam-shaped slot c2 concave toward the real` of the gate, and is secured to the gate by any suitable means. d is the swinging bar or lever placed in the box b. It is pivoted at or near its center to the box, and on or near a line drawn from post al to post a2.. It reaches from the opening b to, but does not touch, the post a2. It has at its rear end the vertical pin dl, which passes up through the openingb and into the slot c2 in the arm c. Itis provided at its front end with the lifting-block cl2, having its upper side beveled or rounded off each way from the center toward the ends, so as to form inclines, by which the latch-weight is raised, as hereinafter explained. To the ends of the block d2 are attached the rods a8. Instead of using a distinct block, d2, the end of the bar d may be made wider and thicker, so as to admit of suitable construction, for same purpose as the block is used. c is the catch for holding the latch. It is pivoted to the post a2, and provided with the weight c1, which Vextends downward to the block d2. The weight :is held to the post by the staple c2, through which it has free movement. The gate is arranged to open in one direction only.

In approaching the gate when closed the lever a5 is moved in proper direction, which,

acting on the other lever, as, and connectingrods, causes the block cl2 to pass under the end of the weight el, and thus raise the catch c and release the latch. At the same time the bar or lever d turns on its pivot and, the pin d1 acting in the slot c2, throws the gate open. By a reverse movement ofthe lever a5 the gate will be closed. The weight c1, in closing the gate, is raised by the block d2, so that the latch will pass more readily under the catch c. It also holdsthe catch lirmly on the latch,

and thereby prevents the gate from being pushed open by animals. v It will be readily seen that my devices may be attached to the old or ordinary gates which swing on hinges.

Having desorijhed my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The combinfttion, with the gate a andthe levers co5 co6, and their connecting-rods, of the arm c, provided with the slot 02, A(ind .the swinging erm or lever d, provided with pin d1, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, with the catch e and the levers a5 as, and their connecting-rods, of

lsz 164,531

the bar d, provided with the block cl2, and the' weight el, substantially as and for the pury pose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my ownI affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. y

HUGH HAMMOND. Witnesses:

CHARLES MATHER, E. MCKINNEY. 

